Disposable syringe



w. E. WARD TAL DISPQSABLE SYRING May 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. une 17, 1949 /f/VfA/r'a/rf Arran/ver L7-ff? E WARD FRED A. CUTTER l l' May 22, 1951 w. E. WARD Erm.

DISPOSABLE SYRINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17. 1949 so k r .A Wm/MM Nar e E T o ma 4 7, /U f vl a Patented May 22, 1951 2,554,351 DISPOSABLE SYRINGE Walter E. Ward, Berkeley, and Fred A. Cutter,

Oakland, Calif., assignors to Cutter Laboratories, Inc., a corporation of California Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,742

` 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a syringe, and particularly to one of the so-called disposable cartridge type.

Various substances must be injected into a human or animalbody intramuscularly; the approved technique for effecting such an intramuscular injection is to force the sterile syringe hollow needle into the body at a desired location and, when the needle has attained the approximate depth desired, to apply a reduced pressure to the needle in an attempt to draw blood through theneedle and into the syringe barrel; if it is possible to aspirate blood, then the needle must be relocated, the presence of blood being an indication that the needle is in communication with a blood vessel and is not within a muscle.

Various substances, of which penicillin is one example, are of such a viscous nature that they cannot be placedreadily in the ordinary syringe; in addition, after use, the syringe must be cleaned with special solvents while if any moisture is present, a gum is formed; further, the ordinary syringe cannot be sterilized readily and is not suited to emergency or home use. For these and other reasons, many substances such as penicillin are most advantageously dispensed in a cartridge in .conjunction with a syringe structure, the latter being thrown away after being used.

In the disposable cartridge syringes heretofore provided, the problem of aspirating has provided considerable difculty and various involved techniques and relatively cumbersome devices have been employed. For example, one common form of device includes a removable rubber cap placed over the open end of the syringe barrel; when the needle is supposedly positioned intramuscularly, the rubber cap is worked in an attempt to provide an aspirating pressure upon the needle. The cap is of relatively small extent and the aspirating pressure applied is frequently not suicient to give a true indication of the location of the needle end. Also, after the aspiration procedure has been followed, it is necessary to remove the rubber cap from the end of the syringe barrel, sterilize the cartridge, insert the cartridge ,in the syringe barrel, place the cap on the end .of the cartridge, then effect the injection. Be-

tween the aspiration operation and the actual injection, the syringe barrel and needle can move 1 at a relatively low cost and so can be thrown away after use. Briefly, the syringe of the present invention includes the combination of a hollow needle, a syringe barrel and a cartridge which, after removal of the usual sheath which protects the sterile needle, co-acts with thecar.- tridge barrel as a piston to provide an aspirating pressure to determine if the blood can be drawn. Thus, the cartridge is inserted in the barrel by the manufacturer, and the entire syringe unit can be provided by the manufacturer as a sterile unit so that once it has been determined thatthe end of the hollow needle is in an intramuscular position, it is only necessary to move the cartridge to engage that end of the needle within the barrel to eiTect a discharge of the cartridge contents. In this way, the entire unit can be handled and the syringe does not have to be taken apart and reassembled while its hollow needle is supposedly in an intramuscular position.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide a novel syringe of the cartridge type and which can be manufactured so inexpensively that, if desired, the syringe can be thrown away after use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel syringe of the cartridge type which is particularly adapted to the intramuscular injection of such materials as penicillin and the like.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein the present preferred form of syringe embodying the present invention is disclosed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the device assembled but prior to use, while Figure 2 is a generally similar view, but showing the device in use.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly in section through a modied form of the device.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section, showing another form of the device as it appears during the manipulation.

Referring to the drawing, the device comprises a syringe barrel 6 having a suitable handle or grip portion made up of ears l extending transversely upon the upper end of the barrel 6. The lower end of the barrel is closed as at 3, and includes a projection 9 upon which is seated a removable sheath l0. The end 8 of the barrel 6 is tted with an annular extension H, the end of the sheath fitting between the extension 9 and the annular extension Il in a sealing relationship. It is to be noted that extension 9 and extension H terminate in a common plane, the advantage of this being presently/explained.

3 A hollow needle I2 is sealed in and extends through projection 9 and end B into the interior of the barrel 6, the needle being vvprotected prior to use by the sheath I0. Within the barrel 5, a portion of the needle is surrounded by spacedT in the barrel from end 8.

A cartridge of the material to be dispensed isY generally indicated by numeral 2I and com-f 5. annular extension I3, projecting upwardly witl1-"V The material to be-' A dispensed is indicated generally by numeral 24, being sealed in the lower portion of the cartridge' by several closure discs 26.

' The size of the cartridge 2I is such that it approXimates closely the interior of the barrel 6; usually the barrel and cartridge are of circular cross section. In accordance with this invention, a ring 21 of a sealing material is provided about the lower end of the cartridge 2l and between the cartridge and the barrel 6 so that an effective seal is provided between the barrel and the cartridge and the cartridge acts asa piston 4,

' dicated by numeral 2 0 in Figure 2, to remove any in the syringe barrel.

In use, the unit is supplied by the manufacturer in thatform in which it appears in Figure l, the sheath being in place, the needle, the interior of the barrel and the end of the cartridge coplanar ends of extension 9 and ring II are against the patients skin. The cartridge 2l is then moved rearwardly to apply an aspirating pressure to the interior of the needle to ascertain whether or not blood can be drawn. II

blood can be drawn into the barrel, it is neces- 4. sary to relocate the needle. If blood cannot be drawn into the barrel, then the needle is in position for the patient to receive the injection, whereupon the end of cartridge 2I is moved toward the patient, the projecting transverse ears 1 being grasped as between the middle and the forenger and the end of the cartridge being forced inwardly by the thumb until the upu per end I2 of the needle is forced through the several discs providing a closure within the carI tridge 2l. As the needle projects through the upper surface of the disc closure in the cartridge, the lower surface of the closure in the cartridge engages the upper end of extension I3, whereupon the cartridge closures are forced upwardly in the cartridge as a piston and the contents of the cartridge are forcefully projected through the hollow needle and into the patient, the cartridge being continually advanced to force additional material into the needle. The needle projects above the tubular extension I3 a dis- 65 j tance only slightly more than the thickness or" lthe cartridge closure discs and the extension I3 extends above the end 8 a distance slightly greater than the liquid depth in the cartridge so that the cartridge can be drained completely; '70"inserted to the correct depth; further, the anthe needle is sealed within the several disc clo- 'sures so that leakage does not occur and the only release is through the hollow needle.

If desired, the barrel S can besupplied in sterile form, its end being closed with a suitable clo- 'it need not be held at all times when in position.

sure which is removed for use. Cartridge ZI can be supplied separately to t the barrel with suiflcient -closenessas to permitof aspiration when the needle is positioned intramuscularly; in this case, the end of cartridge 2l is sterilized before insertion in the sterile barrel. Sealing means 21 :can be carried by the cartridge, as we have shown .in Figures 1 and 2, or by the barrel. Thus, in

"l'ligures 3 and 4, arubber strip 3I is secured to :l0

ears 1, the rubber strip having an aperture there- Vin which is slightly smaller than the diameter -of the cartridge 2|. Upon moving the cartridge 2I, an yaspirating pressure can be applied to the hollow needle I2, the rubber strip providing a gas-tight t between the cartridge 2I and the barrel B. In use, the barrel 6, needle I2and Vcartridge 2l can be separately sterilized and 'barrel 5 used repeatedly with separate cartridges.

If aspiration is not considered necessary or desirable, then theseal 21 between the cartridge rand the barrel need only be such as to Iensure :continuance of the `sterile condition of the com- ;mon areas.l This can be achieved by providing an air filter medium between the two, as is inbacteria which might otherwise enter between ,the barrel and the cartridge; a suitable air lter lis provided by felt, cotton, wax and the like.

In Figure 5 we have shown another form of the device embodying the present invention and in vwhich a transparent barrel 4I is fitted with are- ,movable needle structure 42 including a hollow needle 4g projecting into the transparent barrel 4I. A tubular cartridge 44 is provided, this containing the material to be injected by the syrringe, the cartridge being made up of a hollow tube, generally cylindrical in cross section, and closed at each end by slidable plugs 46 and 41. Adjacent to its upper end, the barrel 46 carries a sealing ringl which ts about the cartridge Vand provides a fluid-tight seal between the cartridgeand rthe barrel. In use, the cartridgabarrel vand the needle being sterilized, the needle is inserted'in position for the injection, the cartridge being in '.place in the barrel vbut not in engagement with ,the end of the needle 43 which projects into the barrel. It is only necessary to retract the cartridge in the barrel to apply an aspirating pressure to the needle to ascertain if it is in an acceptable location for the injection. Onceit has Y'been ascertained that the needle is in an acceptable location, it is onlynecessary to move the handle structure, generally indicated bynulmeral 49, into a position in which plunger 5I therein is aligned with the barrel and with the cartridge A cartridge lock 52 is then screwed 4into position, this being rotatably mounted in ,nut 53 and being' engaged therewith byrscrew threads 54; the cartridge lock forces plug 46 into engagement with theprojecting end of the hol- .low needle and the latter pierces the plug 46.

Y'When the cartridge loclris in position, plunger P5I is lowered into place to engage plug 41 and lforce it downwardly in the cartridge.

A By providing projection 9 Yand the annular rextension i! of a length such that they terminate in a common plane, one using the syringe Vis provided with means for ascertaining both .visually and by feelthat the needle has been Tnular extensions prevent toodeep an insertion, :it otherwiseY being possible to force projection v1'9 inadvertently into theflesh; additionally, the ',two provide a stable .support for the syringe so From the foregoing, we believe it will be apparent that we have provided a novel and simple form of syringe and of syringe cartridge which can be manufactured inexpensively and which enables an injection to be made very simply and with a materially simplied and yet adequate technique.

We claim:

1. A syringe comprising a barrel having an end and a tubular sidewall, a hollow needle having one end projecting from the barrel end and its other end projecting through the barrel end into the barrel, a tubular cartridge slidable in said barrel, means between said tubular cartridge and the tubular sidewall of said barrel providing a seal whereby said cartridge is slidable in said barrel as a piston in said barrel, a slidable closure in an end of said cartridge adapted to be punctured by an end of said needle, and a tubular extension extending into said barrel from said barrel end in a spaced relation to said barrel a distance slightly greater than the free depth of the cartridge and adapted to enter said cartridge and force the closure therein into the cartridge as a piston; said needle extending beyond said extension a distance slightly greater than the depth of said cartridge closure.

2. In combination, a cartridge comprising a tubular container having a sidewall and carrying a material for injection into a patient and having an open end closed by a puncturable closure; and a syringe for (l) ascertaining the suitability of a location for injection of the container carried material, and (2) injecting sald material into a patient, the syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a sidewall, a hollow needle positioned with one end projecting into said barrel in a position to pierce said closure and the other end projecting beyond said barrel; and means engaging the cartridge sidewall with the tubular syringe barrel sidewall and slidably sealing the barrel and the cartridge and adapting the cartridge to cooperate with the barrel as a piston to apply an aspirating pressure to the hollow needle to ascertain whether or not the needle end is in a position wherein the cartridge contents can be injected into a patient.

3. In combination, a cartridge comprising a tubular container having a sidewall and carrying a materal for injection into a patient and having an open end closed by a puncturable closure; and a syringe for (l) ascertaining the suitability of a location for injection of the container carried material, and (2) injecting said material into a patient, the syringe comprising a tubular barrel having a sidewall, a hollow needle positioned with one end projecting into said barrel in a position to pierce said closure and the other end projecting beyond said barrel; and means adapted to engage the cartridge sidewall with the tubular syringe barrel sidewall and seal the barrel and the cartridge to cooperate with the barrel as a piston to apply an aspirating pressure to the hollow needle to ascertain whether or not the needle end is in a position wherein the cartridge contents can be injected into a patient.

4. In combination, a cartridge comprising a tubular container carrying a material for injection into a patient and having one end closed by a puncturable closure and the other end closed by a closure slidable in the cartridge as a piston; and a syringe for (1) ascertaining the suitability of a location for injection of the container carried material, and (2) injecting said material into a patient, the syringe comprising a tubular barrel, a hollow needle positioned with one end projecting into said barrel in a position to puncture said closure and the other end projecting beyond said barrel; means adapted to engage the cartridge with the tubular syringe barrel and seal the barrel and the cartridge together in a sliding gas-tight nt to ada-pt the cartridge to cooperate with the barrel as a piston to apply an aspirating pressure to the hollow needle to ascertain whether or not the needle Aend is in a position wherein the cartridge contents can be injected into a patient; and means for engaging the slidable closure to force said slidable closure to slide in said cartridge and eject the contents thereof through said needle when the one end of the needle projects through said closure.

5. A syringe comprising a barrel, a hollow needle having one end projecting from the barrel and its other end projecting into the barrel, a cartridge slidable in said barrel, an air filter between the cartridge and the barrel, a slidable closure in an end of said cartridge adapted to be punctured by an end of said needle, and a tubular extension extending from said end in a spaced relation to said barrel and adapted to enter said cartridge and force the closure therein into the cartridge as a piston.

6. A syringe comprising a barrel, a hollow needle having one end projecting from the barrel and its other end projecting into the barrel, a cartridge slidable in said barrel, an air filter between the cartridge and the barrel, a slidable closure in an end of said cartridge adapted to be punctured by an end of said needle, and a tubular extension extending from said end in a spaced relation to said barrel a distance slightly greater than the free depth of the cartridge and adapted to enter said cartridge and force the closure therein into the cartridge as a piston; said needle extending beyond said extension a distance slightly greater than the depth of said cartridge closure.'

7. In a syringe of the class described, a barrel and a hollow needle projecting therefrom, a tubular cartridge containing a substance to be injected with said syringe and adapted to fit slidably in the syringe barrel and to cooperate with said barrel to force the contents of the cartridge through the hollow needle, and an air lter between the cartridge and the barrel.

WALTER E. WARD. FRED A. CUTTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,557 McElroy June 9, 1903 743,743 McCullough Nov. 10, 1903 1,495,924 Quayle May 27, 1924 1,817,003 Hein Aug. 4, 1931 1,848,711 Hall Mar. 8, 1932 2,408,323 Lockhart Sept. 24, 1946 2,490,447 Lockhart Dec. 6, 1949 

